Lederhosen and cowboy hats: 8 U.S. towns with a Bavarian twist

8 U.S. towns with a Bavarian twist

Lederhosen and cowboy hats

Bavarian-style towns can be found in the most unlikely places in the United States, with little pieces of the German heartland in the Pacific Northwest, Central Plains, Upper Midwest, and even the Southeast. These towns do more than simply mimic the architecture. The locals, some of whom are descendants of their town's German founders, embrace Bavarian traditions and celebrations as part of their daily lives (like these folks in Fredericksburg, Texas). Here are eight Bavarian-style towns that are thriving in the heartlands of America. (Text: Josh Lew)